Ananya 2004

2004

26 Oct    Kuchipudi: Raja and Radha Reddy and group

27 Oct    Mohiniattam: Dr. Neena Prasad and group

28 Oct    Odissi: Sharmila Biswas and group

29 Oct    Bharatnatyam: V.P Dhananjayan and group

30 Oct    Kathak: Kumudini Lakhia and troupe

Ananya – The Unparalleled, festival of Indian classics dance at a heritage monument

The Ananya Dance Festival was an annual five-day classical dance extravaganza at Purana Qila, Delhi. Organized by SEHER for 15 years, Ananya in a way resurrected the Old Fort’s glory. A one-of-a-kind event, it featured the major classical forms on a single stage, presenting group choreographies in various styles. Eminent names like Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Padma Shri Madhavi Mudgal, Leela Samson, Bharati Shivaji, Swapna Sundari, Maitreyee Pahari, Parwati Dutta et al have performed at the festival over the years, lighting up the Old Fort as the backdrop.

Ananya was much more than a dance festival. It heralded the onset of the cultural season in Delhi with the change in season, the breezy evenings in Delhi with winter around the corner. October has always been the month of Ananya. Diyas flickering at the entrance begetting the audience to come be a part of this dialogue of Indian classical dance with a heritage monument.

The event was produced and conceptualized by SEHER with the help of the Government of Delhi.

Ananya brought the vibrancy of contemporary creativity in the Indian dance tradition to the center stage. The dancers, drawn from different styles, explored new vistas in responding to the challenges of our times. It exemplified the inherent resilience of our dance traditions to evolve with new ideas and changing contexts. Ananya was a medium for vital creativity and choreographic daring.

Curator’s note:

“Ananya popularised Indian classical arts amongst the youth. It showcased Indian classical dance in its purest form but with enticing packaging for the younger generation and first-time enthusiasts of Indian culture. Set against the majestic backdrop of Purana Qila and open to all, the festival for 14 years became a favorite annual event amongst all sections of Delhi’s audience. That is the true testimony to the beauty of our classical arts.”